NOS4A2

Author: Joe Hill
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Horror
692 pages
Publisher: William Morrow

Synopsis
Victoria McQueen has a secret gift for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. On her Raleigh Tuff Burner bike, she makes her way to a rickety covered bridge that, within moments, takes her wherever she needs to go, whether it’s across Massachusetts or across the country.

Charles Talent Manx has a way with children. He likes to take them for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity plate. With his old car, he can slip right out of the everyday world, and onto the hidden roads that transport them to an astonishing – and terrifying – playground of amusements he calls “Christmasland.”

Then, one day, Vic goes looking for trouble—and finds Manx. That was a lifetime ago. Now Vic, the only kid to ever escape Manx’s unmitigated evil, is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx never stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. He’s on the road again and he’s picked up a new passenger: Vic’s own son.

My review
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill is a dark, immersive novel that sits squarely in the realms of horror and dark fantasy. This was my first Joe Hill book, and although I don’t often read these genres, I found it almost impossible to put down. I had originally planned to reread Stephen King’s The Stand to celebrate spooky season, but when I came across NOS4A2, the premise was too intriguing to resist, so I dove right in.

Before picking this one up, be prepared. NOS4A2 is long. But the length feels justified. Hill uses every page to build a complex, fully realized world and characters that drew me in completely. His writing is sharp, imaginative, and, despite the novel’s size, surprisingly accessible. He moves seamlessly between past and present, crafting vivid, believable characters that feel alive on the page. There are a few meandering sections, but they’re balanced by plenty of tension and action, and I found myself flying through it with genuine curiosity.

At the heart of the story is Victoria “Vic” McQueen, nicknamed The Brat by her father. Using a familiar horror trope, a young, determined heroine, Hill introduces Vic as an eight-year-old who discovers her beloved bike can take her wherever she needs to go, even across a magical, rickety bridge called the Shorter Way. Whether she’s retrieving a lost necklace or escaping a fight, the bridge always delivers… though not without cost.

Her nemesis, Charlie Manx, is the stuff of nightmares. Manx preys on children, whisking them away to his twisted wonderland, Christmasland, where every day is Christmas and every joy is corrupted. He’s aided by the deeply unsettling Bing Partridge, whose idea of spreading holiday cheer is more horrifying than festive. Their partnership is grotesque, chilling, and unforgettable.

Amidst the terror, Hill weaves in moments of real emotion with chapters that are touching, sad, and deeply human. These moments give the novel heart and elevate it beyond a simple horror story.

NOS4A2 is a creative, haunting dark fantasy that’s perfect for spooky season. I don’t usually reach for horror novels, but this one might have converted me. I’ll definitely be exploring more of Hill’s work and will have to add his latest book, King Sorrow, to my TBR!

As a side note, yes—Joe Hill is Stephen King’s son. I wasn’t planning to draw comparisons, because Hill clearly stands on his own as a storyteller. Still, I couldn’t help noticing shades of his father’s style here and there. With NOS4A2, Hill proves he’s earned his place among the best modern horror writers.

My recommendation: worth the read!